A new year brings fresh goals, renewed focus, and the perfect opportunity to get your legal house in order. At Bayer Law, we encourage our clients to use January as a reset—an annual moment to confirm that the documents protecting your family, home, and business are still doing their job.
Small updates today can prevent major headaches tomorrow. Here’s a practical checklist to help you start 2026 with clarity and confidence.
2026 Legal Review Checklist
1. Estate Planning Essentials
Even the most thoughtful estate plan needs periodic updates. Review:
Will & Trusts – Do they still reflect your wishes, family dynamics, and assets? Are the right people still named as guardian, executor, and trustee?
Living Will and Health Care Proxy – Is the right person named to make your medical decisions? Is the document still aligned with your end-of-life preferences?
Trust Funding – If you have a trust, have new accounts, properties, or investments been added properly?
Beneficiary Designations: These override your will—so they must match your overall plan.
Review your designations on:
- Life insurance policies
- Retirement accounts
- Pay-on-Death (POD) or Transfer-on-Death (TOD) accounts
2. Business Records
If you own a business, January is the time to tighten up operations and compliance.
- Operating Agreement or Partnership Agreement – Are ownership or responsibilities updated?
- Annual reports and state filings – Have deadlines shifted? Mark your calendar to file your annual report.
- Employment/contractor agreements – Do they reflect new roles or rates?
- Buy-Sell Agreements – Still match current valuations and stakeholder relationships?
- Business succession documents – Are they coordinated with your personal estate plan?
3. Insurance & Risk Management
A quick review can highlight gaps that put families at risk.
- Life insurance coverage
- Homeowner’s policies
- Umbrella liability insurance
- Business liability and workers’ comp
Start the Year Protected
If you discover inconsistencies, outdated documents, or anything that feels unclear—don’t worry. That’s exactly what these annual check-ins are for.
Bayer Law offers comprehensive document reviews for existing clients and new families who want to walk into 2026 with peace of mind. Please reach out if we can help.
Here’s to a year of clarity, protection, and smart planning.
— The Bayer Law Team